osborne



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. J. W. OSBORNE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented May 29, 1888. I91.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. OSBORNE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

Patented May 29, 1888.

n. PEIERS. Phulo-u'thognphen Waihingtnn. n. c.

tarts Nirn PATENT tribe,

TYPE WRlTlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,481, dated May 29,1888.

Application liled February 19, 1887. Serial No. 223,196.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN WALTER OSBORNE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at \Vashingtou, in the District of Oolumbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines;andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention is related to the devices used in connection withtypewriters, which control and regulate the proper presentation of thepaper which is to receive the impression from the type; and it isespecially adapted for use in connection with the Hammond type-writerand others of similar construction in this respect, inasmuch as itfurnishes means forthe proper inspection of the writing, and at the sametime greatly facilitates the erasure of errors.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents,on a reduced scale,my attachment as seen on the back part of atype-writer. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same mechanism,seen from theright-hand side of a Hammond machine, with part of the latter. Fig. 3 isa similar view from the left. Figs. 4. and 5 illustrate a method oflocking the feedroll when the paper is raised. Figs. 6 and 7 showanother method by which the same end is accomplished. Figs. 8 and 9 showdetails of a modification, as seen from the left andfrom the back. Figs.10 and llillustratein cross section and front elevation the improvederasing-platc. Figs. 12, 13, and 14. show details of construction. Fig.is aperspective view of an improved ribbon-shield.

In the typewriter patented to J. B. Hammond, December 18, 1888, andnumbered 290,419, which is now made and sold in substantial accord withsaid patent, the paper A, which receives the writing, is moved up ordown, as desired, between the type-segments (vibrating horizontallywithin the typewheel guard K) and the hammer-face at B, by means of tworubber rolls, 0 and I), which grasp the same, one of which can berotated (No model.)

by the hand. For this purpose it has a knob or milled head,E, upon theend of its shaft upon the right-hand side, (not shown in Figs. 2 and 3,)and is called the feed-roll. When the machine is in use, this roll ispositively fixed in one direction,while in the other it admits of a verypartial rotation against a stiff spring on the axis of the line -feedlever J. The former direction is that which sends the paper up, and myinvention has special reference to the rotation of the feedroll in thatway, as it would, if sufficient in amount, disclose the last linewritten. In these machines as at present manufactured it is difficult tosee the last words written, inasmuch as parts of the mechanism aredirectly in the way, and although it is possible to see a few of thelast letters of the last word if the feed-roll D be turned down, asbefore stated, yet this partial expedient can be used only when theline-feed is largethat in practice it is usual to press the paper backfrom the ribbonshield with the finger, and then, by leaning forward,manage to get an oblique view of the writing below, in a manner thatwill be understood by all those who are conversant with and able tooperate this form of type-writer. As before explained,the feed-roll islocked, so that it cannot be accidentally moved while the writing is inprogress, a precaution that is necessary so as to insure a truealignment, which is one of the characteristicsof this machine. This isaccomplished by letting the convex nose of the feed-pawl F in thefigures jam under the projecting stud at G, which is part of the screwso lettered in Fig. 3. In my invention I release the nose of the pawlfrom this posi- 0 tion, and also lift the yoke H, to which the pawl isattached (under control of a feeble spring) in a manner which is now tobe de scribed, reference being made to Figs. 1, 2,

and 3, wherein small letters only will be used for the new parts, andcapitals, as heretofore, for those already in common use,which latterwill also be called by their accepted tradeterms.

\Vhen the locking mechanism of the feed roll F is released, the lattercan be freely rotated in either direction by its knob E. This releasemay be effected by lifting the pawl and the yoke H, to which it is hung,by the opcr IOO ators left hand, while his right controls the knob atthe other side of the machine.

I accomplish both the release and subsequent rotation of the roller bythe interposition of a system of levers or lever-connections extendingfrom the pawl to the knob, and so arranged that with one hand theoperator can free the roller and turn it up at the same time, andafterward return it with precision to the position it had at the time ofstarting. The system of levers by the intervention of which this is madepossible will now be described.

At the back of the carriage the small shaft 0 is attached to thecarriage ends L by means of the bearings d. in which it can turn. Nearthe left end of the shaft, (having reference to the right and left ofthe operator at the key-board,) and directly under the pawl F, a toggle,consisting of the two parts e and f, is attached, the upper end of thepiecef reaching into a notch in the pawl F. At the other end of theshaft 0 and outside the hearing (Z a boss, g, is made fast, theconstruction of which will be afterward more fully described, throughwhich the lever h slides in a direction at right angles to the shaft.This device, which I shall call the linelift lever, has a nut or otherstop, i, at its lower end, which bears against the under side of theboss 9 by reason of the compression-spring j butting against the bossand the projection on the upper part of the lever, and it also carriesthe tooth or stud k on its side.

It will be seen that as the rubber feed-roll I D has to be altogetherfreed, it is necessary teeth. As a consequence, therefore, whenever aline of writing is being made the feed-roll which holds the paper is inone of twentyseven definite positions, and can be in no other. Makinguse of this fact, I place on the other end of the feed-roll shaft atoothed wheel, Z, inside the milled head or knob E, which latter isremoved in Fig. 2, so asnot to hide the wheel. This forms a kind ofcoupling mechanism between the system of levers and the knob, and Ishall call it, for convenience, the stud-wheel. It contains twentyseventeeth, like the ratchet, and each space between two adjacent teeth isadapted to receive the round stud or tooth is, projecting from the leverh. The form of these spaces and the position of the stud-wheel on theshaft are such that when the stud is brought forward with the levercarrying it, which oscillates over the center of the bossg, it fallseasily and exactly between two teeth, the center line of any such space,when the stud enters it, being right in the sweep made by the stud, andnot necessarily radial.

The toggle, consisting of the pieces 6 and f, is fastened to the shaft 0in such angular relation to the sliding lever it that when the toe ofthe togglejust clears the notch in the pawl F the lower end of theline-lift lever his in contact with the stop at in the end of thecarriage L. Furthermore, the lift of the toggle is such that when thetwo pieces e and f are at their highest, forming one straight-line, thetooth k will then have just entered the studwheel I, and the feed-roll Dwill be a little more than clear. By this is meant that the pawl F andyoke H should. be so high that the latter can be let down a littlewithout again clamping the feed-roll or interfering with its motion ineither direction. If it is now dcsirable to see the writing, it is onlynecessarythe tooth in being engaged with Z-to rotate the feed-roll D inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, so as to throw the paper, and withit the last words written, above the type wheel guard K into full viewof the operator. In doing this the angular position of the lever It willaccommodate itself to the partial rotation of the tooth it about thecenter of the studwvheel, while the spiral spring 9' will yield to thedownward pressure and allow the lever h to slide downward through theboss 9. After inspection the feed-roller will, if let do so, rotatebackward to its starting-point and not farther, the backward rotationbeing limited by the nut i at the lower end of the linelift lever h,which strikes against the boss g, and thus serves as an effective stop.The tooth being then thrown out, the strong spring on the axis of theline-feed lever J will bring down the pawl F, and throw the toggle outuntil the lower extremity of the lever h strikesthe stop m,when the rollwill be again locked fast and the-writing can be proceeded-with inperfect alignment.

In Fig. 2 the dotted drawing of the sliding lever indicates the positionit will take when the paper A has been thrown up to the dis tanceindicated by the dotted line at a in Figs. 2 and 3. In the latter thechange caused in the position of the toggle, pawl, and yoke, by themovements which have been described, is also represented by dottedlines. In Fig. 2, k is the place first occupied by the tooth 7c,when thesliding line'lift lever is brought over for engagement with thestud-wheel, and 7c the position occupied by the same when the paper hasbeen raised and the lever itself is in the dotted position. It will beseen that the stud-wheel Z, having exactly the same number of teeth asthe feed-roller ratchet, will be always in a proper position forengaging with the stud on the line-lift lever, and that with said studit forms a coupling, uniting at the proper time the system of leverswhich I use to release the feed-roller with the knob; also, that theknob E with the line-lift lever, being so coupled together, accommodatethemselves to the compound movements which are unavoidable when thesystem of levers is operated, and the pawl F not only lifted, but heldout of engagement with the ratchet until the stud returns to theposition of itsfirst contact with the wheel, and, following that, thedisengagement and removal of the line lift lever have taken place.Furthermore, it is evident that the coils of the spring j may be made soas to come in contact with each other when the same has been compressedto any predetermined amount, whereby a stop will be provided beyondwhich the roller F cannot be rotated; but this end may also be reachedin other ways, to which reference will subsequently be made. It is alsonecessary to add that the spring at, acting on the upper piece, f, ofthe toggle, is desirable to maintain that piece in its normal place, sothat the notch in the pawl may fall upon it exactly whenever the pawland yoke have been lifted by the hand of the operator in placing a newsheet of paper, or by the periodic use of the linefeed lever J in theregular way.

In Fig. 12 the boss 9 is shown in horizontal section. This constructionis adopted to pre' vent the turning of the linclift lever, to the endthat the tooth It may always be properly presented to the stud-wheel Z,and enter between two teeth parallel to its axis. To ac eomplish this,the lever it has a flat filed upon thesliding portion, (see Figs. 13 and14,) which flat is flush with the bottom of the little chamber filled bythe screw 8, the end of which is turned perfectly fiat. As this screwwhen tight in its place rests upon thebottom of the chamber only, theline lift lever can slide up and down, but cannot turn, and thereforethe direction of the tooth 7c is at all times at right angles to theplane of the stndwheel.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the further development of this invention with a viewto the correction of errors in the writing is shown in end and sideelevation. \Vhen engaged in erasing, it is necessary that the operatorhave both his hands free, and it therefore follows that when a typewritten sheet of paper is thrown up in the manner hereinbefore describedit must be held or locked at a sufficient height while the erasure is.being made. This may be accomplished by so adjusting the relativepositions of the line-lift lever, the tooth upon it, and the setting ofthe stud-wheel on its shaft that when the stud has fallen in and engagedthe wheel it will, after passing through an arc of six or seven teeth ofthe wheel, cause the line-liftlever to have passed thelinejoining thecenters of the boss and studwheel. When the milled head E is released insuch a position, the tendency of the compressed springj will be to forcethe sliding lever up on the other side of the feed-roll shaft, and if itis hindered from obey ing that impulse it will necessarily remainlocked. This is what actually takes place, as will be seen by aninspection of Figs. 4 and 5, in which the linc-lift lever is shown whenit first-engages the wheel, as well as the final position reached (indotted lines) when the feedroll is locked with the paper raised highabove the type-wheel guard K. In this case itis obvious without muchexplanation that when the notch at 0 strikes the feed-roll shaft at 0,or any projection thereon,it can go no farther, whereby the upperextension of the linelift lever assumes the function of a stop, and thelever having passed the line connecting the centers cannot go back tillthehand of the operator forces the spring j again to shorten in lengthand carries the line-lift lever over the center, when the feedroll Dwill return with decision to the position where its engagement firsttook place and not farther, by reason of the stop i coming in contactwith the boss 9, as above explained,and the lever being thrown out thepaper is again held down to the lineguides by a roller that iseffectually locked.

In Figs. at and 5 a small metallic box or case, 25, is shown. This is anon-essential but useful addition to the line-lift lever 72, for as thelat ter must be kept oiled, to admit of its sliding easily, theprojecting end below the boss 9 is apt to soil the hands or work, and soto cause inconvenience.

Figs. 13 and let show in elevation from the end of the machine and fromits back thelinelift lever by itself,for the better elucidation of itsfunctions and the positions of the flat upon its side and the projectingstud or tooth in.

The Hammond type-writer as now man ufactu red is provided with anerasing-plate, M,

(see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,) which is not eonveniently placed. I havemodified this essentially by constructing one which is much rounder andwhich extends much lower, it being placed tangentially to the uprightsheet of paper. This is shown in crosssectiou in Figs. 2 and 10 and infront elevation (partially) in Fig. 11, and is marked with the letter u.

Against this the paper is laid when the line is lifted, the erasure madewith suitable implements, and the line then returned to the properposition for writing by a reverse rotation of the milled head E. Thegain in certainty and in time which this part of my invention effects isimportant, for the paper is held upon a smooth solid surface and at amost convenient angle, and the word to be corrected is not too farlifted from its original position to show an aberration therein, whichis always apparent when a restoration to position from a consid; ableelevation is made by means of the rubber feed'roll. It does not seemnecessary to contrast the facilities my invention offers for the makingof erasures with the difficulties attending the methods at present inuse.

Although the method hereinbefore described for locking the feed-roll D,when it has lifted the sheet to its hi hest position for correction,leaves nothing to be desired, there are other ways in which the same maybe satisfactorily accomplished. Figs. 6 and 7 show such a method in endand side elevation. In this case the flat spring pis made fast to theend L of the carriage by means of the screw of the stop at m, whichpasses through it. The tooth 7c is also made to project both ways fromthe line-lift lever h, iving rise practically to a second tooth, is.When the line-lift lever is brought forward, as before described, andits tooth 7c engages with the stud-wheel Z, the back tooth, 70', doesnot touch the flat spring 19, but as the milled head E is turned in thedirection of the arrow, for the purpose of sending the paper up, theback tooth, It, meets the side of said spring and causes it to bedeflected to the dotted position in Fig. 7 until a hole in the same at qis reached, which falls over the tooth 7c, the flat spring p therebyassuming its original position. Vhen from this locked position it isdesirable thatthe feed-roll should be released, it is only necessary tobend back the flat spring 1) by pressing its upper extremity in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 7 till the tooth 7c is free to move, whenthe roll may be restored to its original position. This method oflocking the feed-roll renders it feasible to let the tooth k engage thestud-wheel at a much higher point than is desirable when thehereinbefore described method is employed, in which the necessity fortheflat spring does not exist.

The toggle-joint for lifting the pawl and yoke (shown in Figs. 1 and 2and indicated in Fig. 4) may have other devices substituted for itas,for instance, a lever of the third order having a cam surface and madeto reciprocate with the shaft 0 under the pawl F. In Figs. 8 and 9 sucha cam is shown, which takes the form of asoniewhat elastic steel blade,9'. This engages with the under surface of the pawl as soon as ever thelinelift lever (on being brought forward) begins to move, the dottedlines in Fig. 8 showing its final position and the change in that of thepawl and yoke. It will be seen that the work to be done is by thesemeans accomplished with few pieces and little complexity. \Vhen, afteran inspection or erasure, the line-lift lever It returns to the positionshown in Fig. 2, the action of the strong spring on the axis of thelinefeed lever J will-generally throw back the cam-faced lever 1', andwith it the lever h, automatically, until the latter strikes the stop atbelow. To make this action more certain and pronounced, a spiral spring,1), may be concealed within the collar, which is fast to the shaft 0 andmade to react against the bearing (1, as seen in Fig. 9. Ihis spring isespecially useful when a toggle is used in place of the cam r if, as issometimes the case, the SitlllG hZtS a slightinward inclination at thetime when it should be automatically thrown out.

In this type-writer a movable device called the ribbon-shield isintroduced between the paper to be written upon and the inkribbon. InFig. 15 this part of the machine is shown in perspective and as it wouldappear if seen from the back, the carriage having been first removed. Itconsists of a thin plate of metal, S, (the function of which is to keepthe paper clean,) with asquare hole in the middle, through which thehammer-face B reaches the type. This plate is strained by a bow orholder made of stiff wire and shown in its usual position by the dottedlines at B. To enable the writing to be better seen, and, incidentally,to facilitate the erasure of errors on the erasingplate u, I bend theside wires of the bow to an obtuse angle, thereby causing the horizontalwire to leave its position close to the paper and perpendicularly abovethe line that is being printed, and to extend over the type'wheel guardtoward the front of the machine, as shown at W. In Figs. 2 and 3 theposition of the ribbon-shield holder, both in its original and alteredform, may also be clearly seen, the letters R and 0 indicating themrespectively. By bending the plane of the stiffwire bow in this way, theinspection of the writing under all circumstances is very greatlyfacilitated; but I do not claim, specifically,the improved ribbonshieldin this specification, inasmuch as it forms the subject of a previousapplication for patent, and refer to it herein only in as far as itconduces to the successful practice of the present invention.

From the foregoing it will be readily under- J stood that my inventionmay be looked upon as an attachment or addition adapted for use inconnection with the Hammond type-Writer, and that although it may ofcourse be manufactured with and form part of every finished machine itmay also be attached to type-writers now in existence which were notdesigned to receive it, as they require no change of the leastimportance to fit them for its adaptation unlessthe substitution of animproved ribbonshield for one of the present form be so regarded; andalthough the application of my invention has been described andillustrated with reference to a Hammond type-writer it is manifest thatit admits of being used in connection with any type-writer in which thepaper is held and controlled by a roller locked and fed forward in ananalogous manner.

Having thus described my invention and the practical working of thesame, I Wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to thespecial devices shown and described, as I am well aware that others maybe substituted for them without in any way departing from or changingthe character of my invention or the principles that underlie it.

What I do claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writer having alinei'eed mechanism, the combination of apositively-operated feed-roller,and locking mechanism therefor, with aknob for operating the roller independently of the feed niechanism,and alever connection for disengaging the locking mechanism extended withinoperative proximity of the knob, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writer having aline-feed mechanism, the combination of apositiyelyoperatcd feed-roller, and locking mechanism therefor,with aknob for operating the roller independently of the feed mechanism, alever-connection extending within operative proximity ofthe knob fordisengaging the locking mechanism and accommodating coupling 1116011311?ism, substantially as described, for establish ing and maintainingoperative connection between the lever-connection and the knob duringthe rotation of the latter, whereby the roller may be freely rotated bythe knob when its locking mechanism is disengaged, substantially asdescribed.

3. In atypewriter having a line-feed mechanism, the combination of afeed-roller, and locking mechanism held in engagement with the roller bya spring, with a knob for rotating the roller independently of the feedmechanism, a lever-connection extended within operative proximity of theknob for lifting the locking mechanism against the action of its spring,and accommodating coupling mechanism, substantially as described, forestablishing and maintaining operative connection betweenthelever-connection and the knob pending the rotation of the latter fromits original position,whereby the connection of the knob with thelifting mechanism will be automatically severed when the knob returns toits original position, substantially as described.

4. In atype-writer havingaline-feed mechanism,thc combination ofafeed'rolleaand automatic locking mechanism therefor, with a knob forrotating the roller independently of the feed mechanism when the lockingmechanism is lifted, and a stop for limiting the rotation of the rollerby the knob, and a lock for holding it in its limited position, substan'tially as described.

5. In a type-writer havinga line-feed mechanism, the combination of afeed roller, and automatic locking mechanism therefor, with a knob forrotating the roller independently of the feed mechanism, a cam forlifting the locking mechanism, a shaft for actuating the cam extendingwithin operative proximity of theknob, and accommodating couplingmechanism, substantially as described, for establishing and maintainingoperative connection between the shaft and knob when the latter isactuated, substantially as described.

6. In a type-writer having a line-feed mechanism, the combination of afeed-roller, and automatic locking mechanism .therefor, with a knob forrotating the roller independently of the feed mechanism, alever-connection for disengaging the locking mechanism terminatingwithin operative proximity of the knob in a sliding rod, a stud on therod, a toothed wheel on the knob or roller arranged for engagement withthe stud, and a spring contro1- ling the rod, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a type-writer having a line-feed mechanism, the combination of afeed-roller, looking and releasing mechanism therefor, and a knob forrotating the roller independently of the feed mechanism, with stops forlimiting the rotation of the released roller in both directions, wherebythe paper may be raised for correction or inspection and again returnedto its original positiomsubstantially as described.

8. In a Hammond typewriter, an erasingplate arranged behind the paperand in proximity to the same, curved, as described, to be tangential tothe paper where the same appears above the type-whcel guard,substantially as described.

9. In a type-writer having an oscillating type-wheel,the combinationofan erasing-plate suitably curved, as described, to be tangential toand located behind the paper, with a ribbon-shield and its how, thelatter being bent forward at an angle over the type-wheel guard and fromthepaper, whereby the writing upon the same is fully exposed to view andis accessible to erasing tools, substantially as described.

10. In a type-writer, the combination of a feedroller, and lockingmechanism. therefor, with a leverconnection for lifting the lockingmechanism, a knob for rotating the roller when the locking mechanism isdisengaged, and a toothed wheel connected with the knob and feed-roller,and a reciprocating coupling rod constituting a part of the leverconnection for locking the same to the toothed wheel and rollerpendingthe rotation of the latter, substantially as described.

11. In a type-writer,'the combination of a feed-roller, a ratchetconnected therewith, a pawl for actuating the ratchet and for lockingthe same and the roller, with a toothed wheel connected with the rollerhaving teeth corresponding in number to those of the ratchet, a leverconnection for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet, a coupling-rodconstituting a part of the lever-connection for actuating the same, anda stud upon said rod engaging the toothed wheel, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a type-writer provided with a papercarriage, a feedroller mountedthereon, and a knob for rotating thelatter when disengaged, and alocking mechanism and stop for holding the released roller after itsrotation "through a predetermined length of are, consisting of a toothedwheel fast to the roller and knob, in combination with a bossjournaledto the carriageframe, a rod sliding across said boss, but sustained andcontrolled therein by a spring, a stud projecting from the rod adaptedto em gage the teeth of the wheel, and an extension of the rod formedand arranged to strike the shaft of the feed-roller as a stopwhen thepredetermined rotation is completed aud the engaged stud has beencarried across and be yond a line in passing through the center of thewheel and that of the boss upon the earriage-frame, whereby said wheelis persistently urged by the controlling-spring upon the rod IIO in adirection it cannot follow, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. OSBORNE.

Witnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, O. J. HEDRIOK.

